Who we are

The RAF Association (RAFA) Is a membership organisation of current and past members of the Royal Air Force, and those with an interest in aviation.

You do not have to have served to be a member of the Association.

It supports serving and retired members of the Royal Air Forces and their dependents from those involved in the Falklands, Bosnia, the Gulf Wars to World War II veterans and more recently Iraq and Afghanistan.

It is a network of approximately 80,000 members, over 500 RAFA Branches and about 800 volunteer Welfare Officers.

It has one residential home, three short stay respite care homes and 74 sheltered houses. The respite care homes are jointly funded with the RAF Benevolent Fund.

What we do

The RAF Association fundraises to help those in need and provides: Advice and support, undertaking 26,000 welfare visits each year, this represents 70 a day.

Over £8 million in small grants, welfare and short term respite support and residential care.

Access to funding and assistance from other organizations.

Respite breaks for those with medical or welfare needs, about 25,000 people benefit per year.

Long-term care for the elderly, 54 residential care places at Sussexdown House in West Sussex.

Sheltered housing at locations throughout the UK.

The principle means of raising welfare funds is through the Wings Appeal

The RAF Association (RAFA) is established by Royal Charter to provide welfare and comradeship for serving and ex-service members of the Royal Air Force and the Air Forces of the Commonwealth.

The Association was formed in 1943 and celebrated its Diamond Jubilee Year in 2003.

Mission Statement

Our mission is to continue the special comradeship known to servicemen by providing a meeting place and forum for social activities. We are dedicated to assisting the Royal Air Force Family and the local community in serving those in need.

"...The Battle of France is over - I expect that the Battle of Britain is about to begin. The whole fury and might of the enemy must very soon be upon us...Let us therefore, brace ourselves that, if the British Empire and its Commonwealth last for a thousand years, men will say 'This was their finest hour'."

"The gratitude of every home on our Island, in our Empire and indeed throughout the world, except the abodes of the guilty, goes out to the British airmen, who, undaunted by odds, unwearied in their constant challenge and mortal danger, are turning the tide of World War by their prowess and devotion. Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few".

THE OFFICIAL DEDICATION OF THE ROYAL AIR FORCES ASSOCIATION

In friendship and in service one to another, we are pledged to keep alive

the memory of those of all Nations who died in the Royal Air Force and in

the Air Forces of the Commonwealth.

In their name we give ourselves to this noble cause.

Proudly and thankfully we will remember them.